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Matthew 28:19 -baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost

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Matthew 28:19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost===============================

We will go over the Conybeare attempt to attack this verse, plus others before and after.

This one thread will emphasize the Ante-Nicene early church writers, before Eusebius, using as its base a discussion with Bart Ehrman on the textual criticism forum, where I pointed out that this can be considered just about "the most attested verse" in the Bible, in terms of manuscripts and ECW.

Bart EhrmanSteven, It's an interesting issue. What, in your judgment, makes Matthew 28:19 the (or one of the) single most attested verse(s) in the Bible? (I don't know what you're referring to.)

Steven Avery

Greetings Bart.
There are two major components,
a) early church writers
b) manuscript lines.

The first is positive, the second is largely negative (i.e. how many manuscripts show significant variants). Although it may be helpful also to count early mss noses.

First we look at the early church writers, and the breadth and depth of Ante-Nicene references. In a separate post we could go over some of the other issues of Conybeare and the Ploughman paper, things like the many Eusebius citations, the manuscript evidences, doctrinal conjectures, etc.

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Matthew 28:19-20
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever
I have commanded you: and, lo,
I am with you alway,
even unto the end of the world.
Amen.

Below are early church writer references (ECW) till 300 AD for Matthew 28:19.
Possibly the best-attested verse in the Bible.

In almost every case below, the passage specifically says the words
were spoken by the Lord, or were in the Gospel.

What is omitted ?
An Ignatius to the Phllippians reference mentions the dating issues.
Feel free to tweak any of the references below, to improve this list.

"Go ye and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." All then are good together, the law, the prophets, the apostles,
the whole company [of others] that have believed through them:
only if we love one another.

Chapter II.-Unity of the Three Divine Persons.
Wherefore also the Lord, when He sent forth the apostles to make disciples of all nations, commanded them to “baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,” not unto one [person] having three names, nor into three [persons] who became incarnate, but into three possessed of equal honour.

Then they are brought by us where there is water,
and are regenerated in the same manner in which we were ourselves regenerated.For, in the name of God,
the Father and Lord of the universe,
and of our Saviour Jesus Christ,
and of the Holy Spirit,
they then receive the washing with water.
For Christ also said,"Except ye be born again, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Chapter XVII.-The Apostles Teach that It Was Neither Christ Nor the Saviour,
But the Holy Spirit, Who Did Descend Upon Jesus. The Reason for This Descent.

That is the Spirit of whom the Lord declares,
"For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
And again, giving to the disciples the power of regeneration into God, He said to them,Go and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

Irenaeus, The Demonstration of the Apostolic Teaching, Section 3 (c. 195 A.D.)http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/irenaeus_02_proof.htmNow faith occasions this for us; even as the Elders, the disciples of the Apostles, have handed down to us. First of all it bids us bear in mind that we have received baptism for the remission of sins, in the name of God the Father, and in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was incarnate and died and rose again, and in the Holy Spirit of God.

Then said Jesus unto them, I have been given all authority in heaven and earth;
and as my Father hath sent me, so I also send you.
Go now into all the world, and preach my gospel in all the creation;
and teach all the peoples,
and baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit;
and teach them to keep all whatsoever I commanded you:
and lo, I am with you all the days, unto the end of the world.

Chapter VII:I - Concerning Baptism. 1. And concerning baptism, thus baptize ye: Having first said all these things,baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living water But if you have no living water, baptize into other water; and if you cannot do so in cold water, do so in warm. But if you have neither, pour out water three times upon the head into the name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit. But before the baptism let the baptizer fast, and the baptized, and whoever else can; but you shall order the baptized to fast one or two days before.======================================

our Lord, when He sent us, said,
Go ye, and make disciples of all nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.

Be ye likewise contented with one baptism alone,
that which is into the death of the Lord..
not that which is conferred by wicked heretics,
but that which is conferred by unblameable priests, "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: "

thou shalt so baptize as the Lord commanded us, saying:
"Go ye, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you):

After His resurrection He promises in a pledge to His disciples
that He will send them the promise of His Father; and lastly, He commands them to baptize into the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost,

Accordingly, after one of these had been struck off, He commanded the eleven others, on His departure to the Father, to"go and teach all nations, who were to be baptized into the Father,
and into the Son, and into the Holy Ghost."

The Father's Word, therefore, knowing the economy (disposition) and the will of the Father,
to wit, that the Father seeks to be worshipped in none other way than this,gave this charge to the disciples after He rose from the dead: "Go ye and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

Likewise in the Gospel, the Lord after His resurrection says to His disciples: "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go therefore and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,
teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.

For the Lord after His resurrection, sending His disciples, instructed and taught them in what manner they ought to baptize, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Lucius of Castra Galbae
And again, after His resurrection, sending His apostles, He gave them charge, saying, "All power is given unto me, in heaven and in earth.
Go and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."'Munnulus of Girba as our Lord says, "Go ye and baptize the nations, in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit

Euchratius of Thenae
God and our Lord Jesus Christ,teaching the apostles with His own mouth,
has entirely completed our faith,
and the grace of baptism,
and the rule of the ecclesiastical law, saying:"Go ye and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

Bishop Vincentius of Thibaris
"We have assuredly the rule of truth which the Lord by His divine precept commanded to His apostles, saying,'Go ye, lay on hands in My name, expel demons.'
And in another place:
"Go ye and teach the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.'"

"For when he sent his own disciples to do this task, he did not merely say, 'Go, baptize all nations,' but, 'Go, teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.' Therefore, because he knew that both were at fault, he gave a remedy for both, so that even our mortal birth would be changed by the re-birth of baptism, and the teaching of godliness might shut out the teaching of godlessness."

Whence also the Lord Christ charges upon Peter,
and moreover also upon the rest of His disciples,
"Go ye and preach the Gospel to the nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

Neither must you esteem what our Lord said as being contrary to this treatment:
"Go ye, teach the nations; baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

This writing appears to interact with the same issues as Cyprian and may have even been in response to Cyprian's position to rebaptise repenting heretics. Either way, it is clear that this author knew of Matthew 28:19 and did not see it as being at odds with the practice of baptism in Jesus' name, which is heavily dwelt upon in the rest of the treatise.http://www.asitreads.com/blog/2018/2...inauthenticity

The many waters are understood to be many peoples,
or the gift of baptism that He sent forth by the apostles, saying:"Go ye, teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

======================================

Continuation of Conversational Tone to Bart Ehrman

So if you have any other verses with this depth of Ante-Nicene citation, please share away.
Perhaps John 10:30 ?

And what do you make of Conybeare's argument against its authenticity?

Actually, I think it is good to first digest the above, since most papers, including that of Conybeare,
do not give solid Ante-Nicene referencing information. Having the data sensibly displayed comes first .

Shalom,
Steven Avery

James Snapp
The first issue of the Hibbert Journal, in which F. C. Conybeare ... ... and that the threefold formula in Mt. 28:19 is an early accretion, His final sentence: "It may confidently be predicted that when the Greek and Latin fathers who wrote before 400 have been more carefully edited than hitherto from the best codices, scores of old readings will be restored in the text of the N.T. of which no trace remains in any Greek MS."
Steven Avery
The two items contradict each other. Matthew 28:19 may well be the single most strongly-attested verse in the whole Bible, looking at the early church writings before 400 AD. And in addition this verse has close to 100% manuscript support.
So how much interest can we have in textual theoretician whose main redaction conflicts with his main theory ?

And a good summary comment:

And that brings us up to the fourth century. Of course, after this it continues to be quoted frequently and often, but it is clearly not a product of Eusebius or any other author during the trinitarian controversies because it was quoted as a saying of Jesus for 250 years by this time.

Now, I have briefly mentioned trine immersion. This practice appears around the same time as the statement from Matthew 28:19 was considered to be formulaic. While this is an aberration, it could not have come into being without Matthew 28:19 existing for it to be misunderstood. The Greek Orthodox church to this day continues trine immersion. From all of this, we know Matthew 28:19 to have been quoted as early as the late first century A.D. and to have been well understood to be a saying of Jesus.http://www.asitreads.com/blog/2018/2...inauthenticity

II. Of the same from the first letter to Xystus, chief bishop of Rome.

Inasmuch as you have written thus, setting forth the pious legislation, which we continually read and now have in remembrance—namely that it shall suffice only to lay hands on those who shall have made profession in baptism, whether in pretence or in truth,14 of God Almighty and of Christ and of the Holy Spirit; but those over whom there has not been invoked the name either of Father or of Son or of the Holy Spirit, these we must baptise, but not rebaptise. This is the sure and immovable teaching and tradition, begun by our Lord after his resurrection from the dead, when he gave his apostles the command 15 : Go ye, make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. This then was preserved and fulfilled by his successors, the blessed apostles, and by all the bishops prior to ourselves who have died in the holy church and shared in its life 16; and it has lasted down to us, because it is firmer than the whole world. For, he said, heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.17 |114]

references from Apocryphal writings

Now when there was a calm upon the ship in Hadria (the Adriatic), Theon showed it to Peter, saying unto him: If thou wilt account me worthy, whom thou mayest baptize with the seal of the Lord, thou hast an opportunity. For all that were in the ship had fallen asleep, being drunken. And Peter went down by a rope and baptized Theon in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost: and he came up out of the water rejoicing with great joy, and Peter also was glad because God had accounted Theon worthy of his name.

Now when there was a calm upon the ship in Hadria (the Adriatic), Theon showed it to Peter, saying unto him: If thou wilt account me worthy, whom thou mayest baptize with the seal of the Lord, thou hast an opportunity. For all that were in the ship had fallen asleep, being drunken. And Peter went down by a rope and baptized Theon in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost: and he came up out of the water rejoicing with great joy, and Peter also was glad because God had accounted Theon worthy of his name. And it came to pass when Theon was baptized, there appeared in the same place\ a youth shining and beautiful, saying unto them: Peace be unto you. And immediately Peter and Theon went up and entered into the cabin; and Peter took bread and gave thanks unto the Lord which had accounted him worthy of his holy ministry, and for that the youth had appeared unto them, saying: Peace be unto you. And he said: Thou best and alone holy one, it is thou that hast appeared unto us, O God Jesu Christ, and in thy name hath this man now been washed and sealed with thy holy seal. Therefore in thy name do I impart unto him thine eucharist, that he may be thy perfect servant without blame for ever.

3 One ms. for this whole section has: The two brothers having been set apart by the apostle, said to him, Give tis the seal in Christ. And he ordered them to bring him oil. And ends the history thus: And he arose, and sealed them in the name of Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit, and baptized them. And the Lord was revealed to them, through a voice saying to them. Peace unto you! And the apostle sealed also all that were with them.

And he called Nathan to him, and said to him: How hast thou seen thse baptized who believe in Christ? Come to me, and baptize me in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.2 For I also firmly believe in the LordJesus Christ with all my heart, and with all my
soul; because nowhere in the whole world is there another who has created me, and made me whole from my wounds.

And having thus said, he poured oil over their heads and said: Glory be to thee the love of compassion (bowels). Glory to thee, name of Christ. Glory to thee, power established in Christ. And he commanded a vessel to be brought, and baptized them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost.

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Acts of Philip https://books.google.com/books?id=9MsUG7o1wuwC&pg=PA503
And having thus spoken, he ordered that he should he baptized. And he called Nathan to him, and said to him: How hast thou seen those baptized who believe in Christ? Come to me, and baptize me in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. For I also firmly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ with all my heart, and with all my soul; because nowhere in the whole world is there another who has created me, and made me whole from my wounds.

And after the passion, and the resurrection, and the ascension, Thaddseus went to Abgarus; and having found him in health, he gave him an account of the incarnation of Christ, and baptized him, with all his house. And having instructed great multitudes, both of Hebrews and Greeks, Syrians and Armenians, he baptized them in the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit, having anointed them with the holy perfume ; and he communicated to them of the undefiled mysteries of the sacred body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and delivered to them to keep and observe the law of Moses, and to give close heed to the things that had been said by the apostles in Jerusalem. For year by year they came together to the passover, and again he imparted to them the Holy Spirit.

XIV
"Therefore the great Paul straightway taking her hand, went into the house of Philotheus, and baptised her in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Ghost." (Acts of Xanthippe and Polyxena, XIV)

XXI
Therefore immediately taking off his garments, and Paul laying hold of him, he leapt into the water, saying, Jesus Christ, son of God, and everlasting God, let all my sins be taken away by this water. And Paul said, We baptise thee in the name of the Father and Son and Holy Ghost.

Clementine Homilies and Apostolic Constitusions

But otherwise it is impossible. For thus the : prophet has sworn to us, saying, “Verily I say: to you, Unless ye be regenerated by living water into the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.

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Apostolic Constitutions

49. If any bishop or presbyter does not baptize according to the Lord’s constitution, into the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, but into three beings without beginning, or into three Sons, or three Comforters, let him be deprived.

https://books.google.com/books?id=2M...J&pg=RA1-PA263
50. If any bishop or presbyter does not perform the three immersions of the one admission, but one immersion, which is given into the death of Christ, let him be deprived; for the Lord did not say, “ Baptize into my death,” but, "Go ye and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Do ye, therefore, O bishops, baptize thrice into one Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost, according to the will of Christ, and our constitution by the Spirit.